Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #30 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $114.95 and is still sold new; the Sonos Roam ranks #95 (rated 3.1/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sonos Roam’s replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is rated 3.2/5 at $179.
The JBL Charge 5 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 99dB at full volume, against 95dB for the Sonos Roam. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
The Sonos Roam is the lighter option. A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The catch: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sonos Roam is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #95 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
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